Rethinking Philanthropy: Systems, Trust, and Long-Term Change

In a recent conversation on the podcast It’s Not About Trees, Brita Fernandez Schmidt ACC and Perihan Bassatne — CEO and Founder & Chair of the BB Energy Foundation — reflect on this question with clarity and honesty, exploring what it means to fund and support change that is both human and systemic in nature.

Rather than focusing on short-term fixes, the discussion centres on a deeper shift: philanthropy not as a reactive tool, but as a way of supporting long-term systems change.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple but challenging idea — that the way we give matters as much as what we give.

Philanthropy as systems change

One of the key reflections from the episode is the need to move beyond approaches that unintentionally reinforce the very systems they aim to improve. Instead, philanthropy can play a role in redesigning those systems — supporting structures that are more equitable, resilient, and responsive to real community needs.

This requires stepping back from control and moving toward collaboration, listening, and adaptability.

Trust-based and flexible funding

A recurring theme is the importance of trust. Trust in local partners. Trust in communities. And trust that those closest to the issues are best placed to shape the solutions.

Flexible, trust-based funding is highlighted as essential in enabling organisations to respond to real-world complexity, rather than being constrained by rigid, short-term targets.

Leadership with integrity and staying power

The conversation also touches on leadership — not as a position, but as a practice of integrity over time. True change, they reflect, requires patience, resilience, and the willingness to stay engaged beyond cycles of visibility or urgency.

This kind of leadership is steady rather than performative, grounded in long-term commitment rather than immediate recognition.

Women and girls at the centre

A consistent thread throughout the discussion is the central role of women and girls in shaping healthier, more stable societies. Investments in education, health, and wellbeing are not only outcomes in themselves, but foundations for wider community transformation.

Looking beyond short-term impact

Ultimately, the episode invites a shift in perspective: from measuring success in immediate outputs to thinking about the deeper infrastructure needed for human flourishing.

It is a reminder that meaningful change is rarely fast — but it is possible when built with care, consistency, and respect for those it is meant to serve.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/dAmDs3NC